Councilwoman calls meeting after Berkeley murder

Councilmember Susan Wengraf (District 6) has called a town hall meeting to discuss public safety in the wake of the Feb. 18 murder of Peter Cukor outside his home in north Berkeley. Police Chief Michael Meehan and City Manager Christine Daniel will both be in attendance, as will a supervising dispatcher, and BPD Area Coordinator Officer Byron White.

In a communication to her constituents, Wengraf wrote that she was saddened and disturbed by the murder. “The circumstances surrounding the incident have raised many concerns about safety and police protection. I have talked to some of you personally and others by email. However, given the nature of the incident, I think that a public meeting where you all have an opportunity to voice your concerns and get answers to your questions directly from the Police Chief would be in the best interests of our community.”

Cukor, 67, was assaulted and killed outside his home at Park Gate in the Berkeley Hills around 8:45 pm on Feb. 18. Police did not respond to an initial non-emergency call because they were focusing efforts on an Occupy Oakland march. The murder suspect, Daniel Jordan DeWitt, 23, is due in court on March 22.

The town hall meeting, which is co-hosted by Councilmember Laurie Capitelli (District 5), takes place on Thursday March 8 at 7:30 pm at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda (between Marin and Solano).